Suspect, victim allegedly engaged in sex acts before stabbing

A Lewisdale man allegedly stabbed a 41-year-old Silver Spring resident after a sexual encounter with the man that he thought was a woman.

Around 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Montgomery County police officers responded to the 1000 block of Ruatan Street for a stabbing. The 41-year-old man was found suffering from stab wounds to his upper body and was transported to a hospital, where he is currently in stable condition, police said.

Upon investigating, county police learned the suspect, Christian Ariel Romero, 20, of the 1800 block of Avalon Place in Lewisdale, met the victim at the Cococabana Bar and Grill in Hyattsville on Saturday night, though Romero was unaware that the victim was a male posing as a woman, said Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery County police spokesman.

The victim agreed to drive to his home on Ruatan Street to engage in sex acts in exchange for money, police said. Afterward, the two went outside to smoke cigarettes upon which Romero allegedly stabbed the victim after realizing he was a man, county police said.

Romero was apprehended by Montgomery County police after returning to the home around 3:15 p.m. Sunday to apologize to the victim and was charged with attempted first-degree murder.

“He came to apologize to the victim, but didn’t know the victim wasn’t there,” said Starks, noting that he spoke to other occupants of the victim’s home.

Starks said Romero remained at the home for police to arrest him.

“He came back because he felt bad. He felt remorseful,” Starks said. “He’s been very cooperative.”

In addition to attempted first-degree murder, Romero is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and theft of under $1,000, according to county police.

A defense attorney for Romero was not listed with the courts Tuesday, according to online Montgomery County District Court records.